Automatic sorting machine



Oct. 17, 1933. y A. R. LAFFERTY 1,931,005

AUTOMATIC SORTING MACHINE Filed April 4, 1929 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 l Hg ' INVENTOR ,it ffZf'/e@ In. gg I ATTORFIEYS: i La? 9 Sheds-Sheet 2 A. R.LAFFERTY AUTOMATIC SORTING MACHINE Filed April 4, 1929 L S U www n v 1. TDM R mr ,m 1 mu MM WM, my@ 0N\ I www www a, W s wm w s mm n o m M hm. u E@ 1| mm mw Nwm @m n l Q Q OCL 17, 1933- A, R. LAFFERTY 1,931,005

AUTOMT I C SORTING MACHINE Fiied April 4, 1929 9 sheetssheet ys INVEN OR ATTORNEYS Oct. 1,7, 1933.` A. R. LAFFERTY AUTOMATIC SORTING MACHINE Filed April 4. 1929 ssheets-sheet 4 @f7 l... Q.. MGH e w x fu f mw, mm m6 wu MA Q lh S Q. w G r.. B EN@ .www @www w H w QQ@ ||||lV mw #Sm m mw ,w ...n.w mi

ou. 17,v 1933.

A. R. L AFFERTY AUTOMATIC VS ORTINGY MACHINE Filed April 4, 1929 9 Sheets-Sheet `f5 ATTORNEYS Oct. 17, 1933. A R LAFFERTY 1,931,005

AUTOMATIC SORTING MACHINE Filed April 4, 1929 9 snee'tssheet 7 cf) INVENTOR ATTRN OC- 17, 1933 A. R. LAFFERTY 1,931,005

AUTOMATIC SORT ING MACHINE Filed April 4, 1929 9 sheets-sheet 8 gri/? O We@ i MM, Qu/m 7 )he ATTOR N EY5 Oct. 17, 1933. A, R. LAFFERTY 1,931,005

AUTOMATIC soRTING MACHINE Filed April 4, 1929 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 aj W WA. MN MH n. ww IIWlNl u m :1,: a rfi Q e l@ ///%///j S dma' -MTT'TRS Patented oef. 17, 193:'.` y i 1,931,005

UNITED STATES PATENT 4orifice:

' AUTOMATIC soa'rnva Arthur lt. Lallerty, Detroit, Mich., alalgnor i vBurroughs Adding MachincsCompany, l l L Mich., a corporationgof Michigan `v Application April d, 1929. 4Serial No. 352,388H` 21 claim. (Cl. sos-so) This invention relates to an automatic sorting liable to occur because the gauge must beheld machine for sorting. small articles, particularly exactly perpendicular Ato the eye of the operator. articles such as tapered pins, tapered rollers and This oldmethod is slow, uncertain, and does not the like. The inventionwill be described as it is permit very tine grading. v

6 used to sort tapered pins, but it is to-be under- 'Ihe present invention comprehends a machine 60 A stood that it can beused,equally.well with other that is entirely automatic and, in practice, it has l articles, for example, tapered rollers for roller been found thatthe machine will. not only do` bearings. In fact, the articles to' be sorted needl the work of several hand Operators but it, will not necessarily be tapered, as will be clear from sort the pinsintonner grades than is possible l0 the description of the machine. v l by hand sorting. Forexamplainsorting the pins 05 Tapered pins are usedl to fasten h bs,bush `by hand, argiven lotof pins'is usually sorted into ings, and the like, onto shafts, by driving the only three sizeawhereas, withthe tapered pins into aligned holes in the shaft and chine, the same'pins sorted into ten sizes. y the hub or bushing. These holes are reamed out lThe object ofthe inventionds, therefore, Lio

ll quite accurately to a given taper. When a pin Y provide an improved automatic sorting machine. 70 has the same taper as the hole itgoes into the Amore particular object of the invention is to hole nicely and neither end of the pinprojects provide anautomatic sorting'machinethatis ese but, ii' the pin is too large or too small or if its pecially adapted to sort tapered articles such as taper is incorrect, one end of the pin will project tapered pins, tapered rollers, and the l and this end may not only be in the way of some A further object is to provide 'an improved 75 other operating part but the fastening of ithe hub. sorting machine that `will automatically taken!` or bushing on the shaft may not be secure because ticles from a hopper, automatically arrange them the pin may not project across the joint between in given positiona'automaticallysort them, and the shaft and bushing on one side. It is highly automatically discharge them into dinerent n.

Il desirable that the pin should lit accurately so ceptacles according tothesize of the-article, each I that neither end projects and in order that this receptacle containing only. articles of one size. may be accomplished the pins must be of absp- Other'and. more particular 'objects of inV lutely correct size. The pins are made on auto-v vention will appear froni'the following spacinmatic machines which are reasonably accurate cation and drawings. y. f h y I0 butV which do not always produce pins of exactly An embodiment of the inventionis shown in'f the same size and shape. A variational a fewthe accompanyingldrawings in'which,` l 1 thousandths of an inch will be enough tocause i Figure l is a plan view of the machine with thepintobeamist. ,Y i thepartsinnormalcondition; o

In the case o1' tapered rollers used-Vin roller Fig. vil isa partial 'front elevation'oflthe 36 bearings it will be appreciated that, ifone ofthe chine with the parts in normal condition; 90

rollers isjoi larger diameter thanl the others, Vthe Fig. 3 is a partial perspective view of the oplarge roller will take most of the bearing pressure eratingmeans showing the parte at the rightwhile, if one of the rollers isof smaller diameter` hand end of 2; f than the others, it will take scarcely any of the Fig. 4 is an enlarged partial plan view showing 4t bearing pressure; In order that the bearing may the parts inil thepositions they occupy when a 0 5 t operate at maximum eillciency, each of the rollers tapered pin is delivered from the hopper, into should sustain an equal portion oi' theweight the receiving chamber;y j o so that they will wear\uniformly and so that` Fig. 5 is a partial plan view similartolllg."4 the'bearing will function with the least friction.. showing the parts in the positions they occupy It is therefore desirable that the rollers be gaugedwhen a taperedpin has beenlmoved from the IW and sorted very accurately so that rollers of exreceiving chamber into the firing chamber at the actly the same size will be put in individual end of the first half stroke of the machine.`

v Fig. 6 is a partial section on the'line of Heretofore tapered pins have been sorted by Fig. 4;

60 hand. An operator inserts a tapered pin into a Fig. I is a partial section onlthe M2106 gauging die and then sights across the end `of Fig. 4;

the pinto see what graduation is opposite the Fig. 8 is a partial perspective showing one pin end of the pin. These graduations are only .tiziin the receiving chamber and anotherin the nre apart and are dimcult to read due to the closeing chamber;

nessofthelines. Furthermore,inaccuraciesare El.ilapartialaectiononthe 110 Fig. 4, the view showing a pin in the firing chamber and the gauging die in position to receive the Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 9 showing the parts in;the position they occupy after the pin has been driven into the gauging die;

Fig. 11 is a detail sectional view on. the line 11-11 of Fig. 4 showing the construction of the releasing mechanism for releasing the hammer that drives the pin into the gaugingfdie;

Fig. 12 is a partial plan view showing the gauging die moved to its discharging position and illustrating particularly the mechanism for arresting the die in differential positions;

Fig. 13 is a plan view similar to Fig. 12 illustrating theparts in the position they occupy after the pin has been ejected from the die;

Fig. 1 4 is a sectional view on the line 14-14 of Fig. 1; v

Fig. 15 is a sectional view on the line 1515 of Fig. 13 showing how the parts are held in po sition while a pin is being ejected.

Fig. 16 is a perspectiveview of a cam plate that controls certain functions of the machine.

Before explaining the machine in detail, its operation will be describe'din a general way so that the relation and function of the various parts may be more easily grasped as they are described. In order that the machine may be easily understood, it may be said, in a `general way, that the pins to be sorted are placed in a hopper from which they are ajutomaticallyf removed one at a time. Inasmuch as the pins are tapered it is necessaryj to arrange them relativeto the gaug-l ing die so that the same end of the pin always faces the die. As each pin is taken from the hopper it is delivered to an apparatusthat automatically arranges it in with the correct end pointing in a given direction and delivers it to a receiving chamber in the machine from which it is fed into a firing or feeding chamber. The pins are then automatically fed into a gauging die which has a tapered opening of `a diameter and taper to which the pins should correspond, the die being constructed so that pins of the correct diameterand taper will go into it' a given distance. If the pin is smallerthan'it should be, it willfgo into' the diey farther than a correct sized pin,.whereas, if the pin is larger than should be,

it will not go into the die as far as itshould..k

When entering the die the pin sets a plunger to Y a position corresponding to the distance that the pin enters the die. The die is then automatically moved from a receiving to a dischargingf position, the exact discharging position being deterinined by the size of the pin in the die, that is, the plunger that is set by the pin engages `a stepped stop which arrests the` die in a position corresponding to the size of the pin. After the die has been arrested, the pin is automatically ejected into a chute, there being adiiferent chute for each discharging position of the die so that when the die is arrested in a given position, the pins are always ejected into thek same receptacle. After a pin has been ejected, the die returns to its receiving position where another pin is automatically inserted, the machine operating continuously and automatically without requiring any attention.

The machine is preferably driven by an electric motor 10 4operating through a reducing gear contained in the housing 11 anda clutch in the housing 12the clutchv being thrown into and out of engagement by means of a handlever 13.

When the clutch is engaged a shaft 14 is rotat-k vcumstances.

ed by the motor and this shaft drives both the delivery mechanism associated with the hopper 15 and the mechanism associated with the gauging die. For convenience the gauging die and the mechanism for operating it will be described first.

Gauging die and operating means therefor The gauging die comprises a steel block 20 (Figs. 4 and 8) having an opening therein of such size as to permit a pin of thedesired size and shape to `project through the die a given distance, such, for example, as illustrated in Fig. 10. A tapered pin of the proper diameter and taper will project through the die a given amount while pins of smaller or larger diameter or taper will project through the die to a greater or less extent. The steel block 20 is carried by a reciprocating slide 21 mounted on a carrier 22 to Fig. 12 it will be observed that the pitman carries a pin 30 operating in a slot 31 in the slide 21. The slide itself is urged to the left as viewed in Figs. l and'12 by a tape 32 tensioned by a spring drum 33l illustrated at the left-hand side of Fig. 1, its speed of movement in-this' direction-being controlled by the pitman 24.

As shown in Fig. 12, the pin 30 on the pitman 24does not bear against the rightehand end of the slot 31 inthe slide 21 but against a pin 34 urged to the left by two springs 35 which are illustrated in Fig. 2. This yielding connection is provided to permit the gauging die 20 to be held in proper receiving position for a period of time' during which the pitman may move slightly to the right.`

The die 20 must beheld in proper alignment with the feeding mechanism in order that the tapered pin may be driven into it. For this purpose a stop 36 (Fig. 2) is mounted on base plate 37 in position to contact the end of carrier 22 of the slide 21 carrying'the die so that, as the pitman moves to the right, the die is arrested in receiving position. The parts are arranged so that the die is stopped while the wrist pin 25 tov which the pitman is connected is moving through the vertical portion of its arc with the result that, even though the wrist pin may move through a considerable arc, the pitman will move to the right only very slightly. This slight movement is taken care of by the yielding connection above described which permits the pin 30 to move relative to the slide 21, the die 20 remaining in receiving position under vthe tension of springs 35. From the description of the operating means for the slide 21, it willbe clear that the slide is moved to the left under spring tension, that the extent and rapidity of its movements to the'left are controlled by the pitman 24, and that the slide is returned to the right by the pitman 24 through a yielding connection, the springs 35k being strongv enough to maintain the plunger 34 in the position of Fig. 2 under ordinary cir- Pin feeding mechanism The `mechanism associated with the hopper for delivering the pins tothe fmachine is driven by different connections than the rest of the machine but from the, same shaft 14 so that all the parts are synchronized tofoperate together. For convenience, the hopper 'and its associated parts. will be describedfrst and they will be referred toas the delivery mechanism although these parts form a part of the feeding mechanism in that the pins are taken from the hoppergrdelivered to` the machine, and'placed in the diev by automatic mechanism, which, in lgeneral terms, constitutes the feeding mechanism." l

`The delivery mechanism is driven by the shaft 14 through avcam 40`which oscillates 'an arm 4l thatdrives the mechanism associated with the hopper `15 `for taking the pins from the vhopper and delivering'them one by one to the inclined bottom of a delivery chute 42. 'I'he sides of this chute converge into a narrow.passagewayf434 that terminates near'the rreceiving chamber o1' `the machine. It is not considered necessary todescribe the `mechanism for taking the pins from the hopper l15, said mechanism being described in copending application,S erial No. 349,299, tiled March 23, 1929. The chute 42 is inclined as illustrated in Fig. 9, and the tapered pins are delivered to the top of it *by one in horizontal position and transverse to the longitudinal axis ofthechute. 'The pins roll down the chute and, since the larger and heavier A'ends will travel farther and faster than the smaller, the pins roll in a curve until theyA arearrested by the side edges of the chutein a. substantially longitudinal position with the larger ends down'- ward. They then slide into thenarrow passageway from which they drop onto'the receiving pla-te by gravity. f

' As the pins leave the chute 42, they slide into a receiving chamber comprising `a slot 44 (Fig. 4) in a plate 45 slidably mounted on baseplate 46. The longitudinal movementof the'pins is`limited by an adjustable'stop 47 and they are positioned laterally by the edgeof the'slot 44and an adjustable push plate 48the adjustment of the st op 47 and the plate 48 'permittinggthe receiving chamber to be adjusted to various' sizesfor different diameters and lengths 'ofpinal The sliding'plateV 45"is urged to the left, as viewed'in Fig. 4, bya spring 49 but, when the parts are in the position of Fig.` 4, 'the slide is held to the right bymeans of a lever 50"'pivoted at 51 (Fig. 7), one end of vthis lever engaging the end of the slide45. The lever 50 has an offset lug 52 (Fig. 7) positioned in the path of a lug 53 on a flat bar 54 mounted by means of a pin and slot connection 55 (Fig. 5) on the carrier 22 supporting Athe slide 21, thebar- 54 beingurged to the right, as viewed in Fig.j5,'by a spring 56. The parts are proportioned so that, as the slide 21 moves tothe right from the positionv of'FigJ,

the lug 53 on bar54 vstrilres the lug 52 on lever 5 0, and thelatter engages the end of plate'45 to slide it to the position of Fig. 4, the spring 56 being stronger than the spring 49. Conversely, when the slide 21 moves to the left from its Fig. 4 position, the lug 53 releases the lever `50'and slide plate 45, whereupon the spring 49 moves the slide 45 to the left'. The 1ex/"er'50 is limited in its movement by a limit stud 457 (Fig. 7). l

Referring to Figs.` l and 4, it will be observed that when the slide 45 is in theposition there shown, the receiving chamber comprising the slot 44 with'the adjustable stop'47 and plate`48 is in line with the delivery passagefoffthe chute '42. Whenthe receiving chamber. is thusopposite the delivery passage, one of the taperedpins passes into the receiving chamber till`arrested by the stop 47. The succeedingl pinbears ,against the end, of` the pin that has entered the chamber, the

line or division being Vsuon that, s the simo plate 45 moves tothe left' from its Fig. 4 to'itsFlg. 5 position, the push plate 48 passes in front vhof the end of the next pin in the delivery passage so as tohold thepin in said passage ,until thereceiving chamber Ahas been returned into alignment with the passage, i s' 1 When theslide plate 45 isreleased, and as it moves tothe left from its Fig.' 4 to itsv Fig. `5 position under thetension of 'spring 49, -the pin in the receiving chamber'.islfmoved with it until it drops into afrecess`601(Fig. 8),v which, for purposes of convenience, 'will be termed theflring chamber or magazine.' 'This firing chamber isin line withthe opening vin "th'e 'gauging die 20 when the gauging die is arrested in itstreceiving posivpivoted 'at 64. The 'other armfGS"ofjthislever has a lstud 66`on it to which is connected one end of a spring.67 that" urgesfthe bell cranklever 63165 clockwise. Mountedonj stud 66is afcollar 68 (Fig. 11)' having a nat portion e9 which, when the parts are in normal position, is behind alatch platev 70'slidably mounted in a yframe plate. `The latch 70v may`be moved downward-to release the collar 68-69' and its stud A66 by means of a'lever 71 pivoted to the frame plateaud having -a` pln and slot connection with a rod 72; l The Aleverf 71 is urged clockwise toward latching position by a spring 73. The Vrod 72 hasa'collar 74 fixed to it against which bearsoneen'cl'of a spring 75;"the other end of which bears againstfi?.v slidable'sleeve 76 which bearsa'gainst the end of'the pivoted lever 71. provides a connection such t that, when the rod 72 is thrust to the left, 'as' viewed in Fig. 1 1, the pivotedlever 71 is rockedcounterclockwise vthrough a connectionfthat may'v yield if`the parts become blocked.` Referringto Figs. Zand 3, the connecting/ rod72 is connected at its outer end to' a. laavvlA 77 pivoted on a stud 78 'carried vby a vertical frameplatejor standard 78 (Fig. tobe engaged by a'roller 79 on`the wrist pin 25.

As thejwristpin 25 with its rollerv '19 moves clockwise from' the position of Figir2, the gauging die 20 is held against the `stop 36 andit will c'o'ntinue to be so held until lthe wrist pin is moved from its Fig. I2 position to' an extent sufficient to begin movement of the pitman 24 to the left.r

Although the moving of a pm vfrom `thereoeiving lchamber into.v the'ring chamber vwas-'describedA rst it willbe understood that this acl) The end of pawl 77 is positioned soas l that was moved into the nring chamber in a preceding operationhas been j fed into the die. The sequence of [these operations will lbe explained in more detail in'describing afcomplete operation of the-machine.

In orderto'guide the pin and prent it from being displaced vertically while it is'iieingdriven into thegauing die.' a curved guide 80 is provided`(lilg.8) having vatri-:eend which is positioned in 815101',y 81 (Fig.`6) 1n the slide 45.1 free end of the guide 80 is positioned Just a the tapered pin so as to prevent it from jumping upwardly while being driven into'the die. The guide is slidably andpivotally mounted on a stud 82 carried by a vertical'plate 83 on the base plate 46 andit is urged counterclockwise by a spring 84. Inasmuch as the free end of Vthe guide projects into a slot in the slide plate 45 the guide moves to the left with the slide plate. The bottomg'face oftheguide'o isv straight at jthe rear in order toy hold the pinfrom displacement and itcurves upwardly at vthe front toV permit the ring hammer -61 tojpass beneath it as said hammerdrives the pinrearward into the gauging die, theguide 0 moving.' clockwise slightly as the iiring hammer movesbeneathit'.v j

Theedge oi' the sliding 'plate 45 adjacent the gauging die is positioned Vreasonably close to the die so that thepin properly guided from the iiringchamber into the die. It may happen,

' however, that"oneof the p'nsfis considerably normal.

oversize, in whichevent' the pin would not enter the die very fai 'and vits/'larger end would stillv remain ni the 510i so. rinus should occur, the movement ofthe gauging die tostheleft would be blocked bythe end of thef pin that'remained Ain the firing' Q chamber Iwith resulting damage to the pin vfor the machine. To provide against this contingency' af'pot'ionV of the plate ,45 has been `cut away and'apivoted member 85 (Figs. 5, 6 and 8) is` positioned in the cut away portion,"said pivoted member being urged in acou'nterc1ock--- wise direction by a spring 86 (Fig. 6). 'This pivoted member forms the'side wall of the firing rchamber adjacentthe gauging die and on the side toward which the gaugingdie' is to be moved. Ii' one of the .pins should still project intothe ring chamber when the die is moved, no damage can result because the member v will yield an l permit the pin to pass over it. y The iiring mechanism is recocked rthrough a link 8 7'which'" is connected at its right hand end, as viewed in Fig. 2, to yone end of `a cam lever 88 pivotedvat 89 to the standard 78 supported by the basefplate37. A bell crank lever having an offset arm 126 is pivoted at 127, the'other arm of the lever being inthe plane of the lever r88. ,Thebell crank lever is urged clockwise by a spring 128. lAs, the Vwrlstvpin 25 with its roller 79 moves clockwise, andafter the ilring mechanism has been released bythe pawl 77 heretofore described, the roller 79 'strlkes the oiset arm 126.

of the bell crank.l lever 126-129 and rocks it clockwisevto cause its arm 129 to engage the lever 88 and rock the latter counterclockwise. Thisthrusts the-,linkB'I to the left and moves the bell-.crank 63--65 counterclockwise to the position of Figs. 4.and 11, whereupon the lever 71 projects theflatch 70 in front of the collar 68-69, the roller 79 having passed the `,pawl 77 so that the latterisfree to move. When the roller 79 passes beyond the arm 126 the spring 128 restores the bell crank lever 128-129 to` Indexing mechanism When a tapered pin is driven into the gauging die 20, its end engages a spring pressed plunger 90;(Figs. 9 and 10) mounted Vin a frame like extension ofthe slide 2l. This extensioniframe comprises two laterally extending members 91 and 92 joined by a longitudinal member 93 an extension 94 of said longitudinalvmember form ing a'support for the 'outer end of plunger 90.

The extension frame' moves withslide 21 and may be treatedas a part of it. The plunger 90 is urged toward thedie 20 by a spring 95 (Fig. 4) and the plunger has a double stop portion 96 (Fig. 9) lextending both above and below the body of the plunger fory a purpose that will lappear later. y It will beclear that'the extenty to which the plunger 90 is Vpushed away from the gauging die, or to 'thefright as' viewed in Fig.. 10, will depend upon the size ofthe pin that is driven into the j die. For example, if the 'pinis ofexactly the desired size, the plunger will be moved a certain distance to the right in' Fig.10, whereas', if -the pin is of larger diameter or taper thandesired, the plunger will not be moved as far as it normally should be. On the other hand, if lthe pin is of smaller diameter or' taper than desired, the plunger will be moved farther tothe righty than it lnormally should be. f v

yAfter a pin has been fed into thev gauging'die and after the plungerv90 has been positioned, the gauging die. is ymoved to the left from its Fig. 4 position and such movement continues until the stop 96 on Athe plunger strikes vone of the steps 97on the stepped plate98 as, shown in Fig. 12, the particular step engaged depending upon how far the plunger ,has been projected by thepin and therefore depending upon the diameter and taper of tl'iepin.` When theI stop 96 strikes a step of the plate 98, movement to the left of the gauging die and the slide `21 carrying it is arrested. This does not arrest movement of the pitman 24 with its pin 30,becausevof the pin and slotconnection between the pitman-and the slide 21.`

Afterthe gauging ,diehasbeen stopped in adii'-` kend of a lever 103 that, in turn, is pivoted at 104 on the cross member 92 of extension frame'of slide 21. The pawl is urged clockwise by a spring 105 into, engagement with a shoulder 106 on lever 103 (Fig. 15). .The lever k103 is urged counterclockwise by a spring 107 and it normally occupies a position such that the pawl .100 occupies the dot and dash position of Fig. 15. Conn'ectedto the pin 30 reciprocated'by pitman 24 is a plate 108 having a recessed edge 109 provided with a cam end or nose adapted vto engage'the end of the lever 103 (Fig. 16). When. the vslide 21 carrying the'gauging die is arrested as above described,

the pitman 24`continues to move to the left, which the lever 103 against the tension of the spring 107 to move the pawl 100 into engagement with teeth of rack101, the pawl cooperating withthe to hold the slide `21 1n the position m which' it im of the plunger 90. The hammer is urged in a counterclockwise direction by a spring 112 and it is normally latched 'against movementby a lever 113 urged counterclockwise to latching position by a spring 114. Theforward end ofthe lever 113 is in the pathoi the plate 108 operatedl by the pitman 24. After the slide-21 carrying die 20 has been arrestedas above described and after the latch lever 103 .has been moved to latch the slide '2 1 in position, me 'plac los engages the end o1' lever 113 and rocks it clockwise against the tension voi! spring 114 to release the electing hammer 110. y When this occurs, the spring 112 lires the hammer into engagement with the plunger 90 and the plunger the'gauging die.

The ejecting hammer. is recocked during the return movement of the pitman 24 by means of an incline `115 over which the roller 111 moves in moving' from the position of Fig. 12 to that of Fig. 4. This movement rocks firing lever 110 clockwise against the tensionof its actuating spring 112. The end of lever 110 is cam shaped at 124 and this cam surface enables it to pass the drives lthe pin out of latch lever 113 and arrive at'a position where it will be automatically relatched by said lever 113,

the spring 1 14 moving theoil'set end of lever .113

over the end of the lever 110 to .lock thelatterin position where it is ready for the next operation. Positioned adjacent the various differential positions of thegauging die is 'a series of receiving chutes 120 (Fig. 12) -which .lead to different receptacles 121 closed by'removablegates 122. It. will be obvious'that inasmuch as the differential position of .the receiving die is determined by the .size of.' the tapered pin that is .being vgauged, pins of the same size .will be ejected into,the same chute so that each of the receptacles will lcontain `only pins ola given sizc. Twe'lveof these chutes .are illustrated ,in the drawings but this number can be varied.= IVhe pins'to be sorted vary in diameter to a maximum of about ilve thousandths of an inch` .(.005.)

and the diierentially arranged shoulders of' the stepped plate 98 are arranged, in the machine illustrated, for sorting twelve different sizes of pins. There `are ten steps on plate 98 for sort 'ing usable pins.. The right hand end 'of plate: 98 also acts as a stop to position the die to dischargel non-usable undersize pins in the right hand. chute which is reservedqfor them. Pins. which are non-usa, 11e because oversize are carried` beyond thelast step of plate 98, the carrying die 20 beirg arrested by a. lateral `extension on the` end of Vplate 98 so as to position the die to discharge the pins-into the left handY chute.

Accordingly, pins which are too small and those`r which are` too large for use' are dischargedlas rejects :the diiierencebeing-` about five thousandthsof an inch (.005"); Between these limits the pins are graded in ten sizes for differences fin diameter :of one-half fof one-thousandth of an inch; This is a much ner grading than is Y ff 111 rol-ling over the incline rv115` and recockingf possible byhand." f i -V .f

The stepped-plateI 98 may be adjusted by meansof a set screwl 123 `(Fig. 14),' suitable marks 125y in differential position. When this occurs the vAlthough the operation tithe iachme shoi'xld be clear from the description heretoforegiven of its variousmechanisms,` a recapitulation may be of assistance, particularly inconnection with the sequence o! thegdiflerentoperations.

The to betsortedare vplaced inbulk in the hopper 15 and the machinestarted by throwing inthe clutch by means of the hand operated member 13.` the machine operates` the pins are automatically takeny froml the Vhopper None at a time, delivered to the chute 42 which arranges them withtheir-larger ends downward, and they are then deliveredby the chute to the eeving. challfibel4 44 lst Din 111159 the receiving chamber andthe one-behinditis arrested by the first. As the driving disk.` rotates clockwise thepitmanimoves to the left and, disregarding the ring mechanism 10.1" the moment, the slide 45 is released for movement to the-left by its spring49 and the pin` in the receiving chamber is-moved into, theming chamber where it remains during the recip- .E

rocation of the slide 21, no gaugingY operation taking place until after one of the pins has been positioned in the firing magazine. Y

When the slide 2l returns to theright the gang-f ing die 20 is arrested in a position by stop36 such that its openingrisv in line with the recess` 60 of` thering chamber,` in which a pin Anowv rests. 4At that time the parts areln the positionillustrated in iFg. 9. vAs the driving. continues to rotatethe roller '7.9 on wrist pin 25 strikes the pawln'z. .thrusts the rod ..72 to the left, and thereby releases; the crank- 63--65 which resthe hammer 61 and the hammer, in turn, drives the pin from the tiring chamber intothe'gauging die` 20. As previously ex, plained, this differentially positions thejplungen QQ and such action occurs while the gauging die i is still in line with the ring chamber and before the slide 21has moved to vthe left. As the wrist pin 25 continues-to move the slide 21moves to the left Acarrying `the bar 54 with it and releasing the slide plate 45 which is moved to the- .left by its spring 49. This moves the nextpin from the receiving into the firing chamber. A s the Wrist pin continues its movement; the roller 79fstrikes thearm- 126 and movestheecam lever 8 8 tothrust the link 87, tothe left torecock the ring mechanism The gaugingtdie --continues tomove to the left until itis arrested plate 10B moves the.paw1 100 intolzpositionvto. hold the slide 21 where it has been arrested. As the pitman 24 continuesto move toqthey left and ythe plate'lo` engagesv the lever 113 and trips the nring hammer whichistrikesthe; plunger 90and ejectsthepin from the gauginwhich-thedie has been arrested, the pin slid.A ingdown one of the chutes intoits receptacle.

ing. to the `right fagain which moves the slide Y 108 to the :righti'thereby releasing; lever 113 and. the :latch 109, bothV of.whicl1 automaticallymoveto normal position. The pitman thenvpicks up the slide-Ziand movesit tothe right thereby carrying the firing lever 11'9 to the right',- roller# ingdie'into the receptacleopposite the position the ejectingmechanism'. As the-slide 21'con` "Y tinues to move tothe right vthe'plate `54 engages the lever 50 andi moves the lslide 45 backv to 'thousandth of an inch.

chute 42. 'I'he gauging die 20 is arrested by the stop 36 in line with the firing chamber and, as soon as the wrist pin` moves far enough to engagethe pawl77, .the-operations above described are repeated.

f -In this manner, the tapered pins are taken from the hopper, arranged with theirlarger ends in one direction, automatically fed into a receiving chamber, then into am'ing' chamber, then into a gauging die from which theyy are ejected into'diii'erent receptacles depending upon the di-` ameter andv taper of the pin. The operation is entirely automatic andthe lmachine needs no attention from an operator other than to keep the hopper filled with pins and to see thaty the machiney is correctly adjusted. The pins are rapidly-and automatically sorted into sizeswhich differ fromone another only one-half of one- Although Athe machine has been illustrated and described for use in sorting tapered pins, it may 4 be used equally well for sorting tapered rollers for 'roller bearings.and tapered articles of other kinds. In fact, itcan be used for sorting articles which are not tapered such, for example,

as ball bearings. In sorting articles `oi' this kind the opening in the gauging die can be madeA tapered and of such a size that a ball of a given diameter will project beyond the die a given distance. It will be readily appreciated that'balls of other diameters will project vmore or Lless through such-a vdie and will position the plunger 90 -in differential positions depending upon the size ofv the ball. 'I'he machine will perform in exactly the same way in. ejecting the balls from l the die into different vreceptacles depending upon the position in which the die is arrested. In using the machine with different articles the size of the gaugingldie and the size of the receiving and 'firing chambers can befaltered to i suit the requirements of the particular article,

that itis desired to gauge, such changes being easily possible.

-It is to be understood thatr the structureshown is for' purposes of illustration and that variations maybe made in it without departing from` thel spirit andscope of -the invention as denned in the appended claims. 1 l

1-. In l. machine of the class described, a gauging die, automatic means for arranging tapered articles with their smaller ends toward said` die and for feeding `them into the die, a stop mechanism set by the positioning of the tapered article inthe die, means for moving said die to differential discharging positions determined by the setting 'of said stop mechanism, and ejecting means for automatically` ejecting the -ta pered article from the die when the die reachesits diiTerential position.

2. In` almachine of the class described, a hopper for receiving articles in bulk, a gauging die, automatic means for taking said articles from said lhopper and feeding them one at a time intosaid die so that each `article assumes a `position in the die corresponding to its sizea plurality of receptacles each adapted to receive articles, of a given size, means formoving said die from a' receiving to a` discharging position ladjacent said receptacles, diierential mechanism 4automatically controlled by theposition of the article in the Vdie for arresting said dier in differential positions, and means for automatically ejecting saidarticle from said d ieafter the die has reached its differential position.

e from said firing chamber 3. In a machine of the class described, a hopper for receiving articles in bulk, a gauging die, automaticl means for taking' said articles from the hopper and lfeeding them into said die, a stop mechanism set by the position ofthe article in ther die, mechanism 'for moving -said die to dinerential positions determined'by the setting of said stop mechanism, al receptacle adjacent each dinerential position of the die, and means for automatically ejecting the article froml the die when the die reaches its differential position to thereby deposit the' article in a recep-` the die. Y c

K 4. In almachine of the class described, ,a hopper for receiving articles in bu1k,ga gauging die,

tacle corresponding to the size of the article in means for`automatically taking said articles from the hopper and feedingr them into saidl die,

- a stop mechanism set by the position `of the article in thefdie, means for automatically moving said die to differential 'discharge positions determinedby theA setting of said stopv mechanism, a receptacle adjacent each dischargeposition of the die, a latching device acting to latch the die in the differential position in which it is arrested, Aand means acting to `automatically eject the article from thedie vafter the latter has been latched in position.

5. In a'machine'of the class described, a hopper for `receiving tapered articles in bulk, a gauging die,y automaticA means for taking said `articles from saidhopper and arranging them Withv their smalleriendsin onedirection and feeding them into said die, astop mechanism set by the positioning of said articles in said die, means for automatically vmoving said die to differential positions determined by the setting of saidV stop mechanism, and ejecting means acting to auto.- matically eject the article from `,the die after the latter has reached its differential position.

6. In a machine of the class described, Va movable gauging die,-means for moving said die back and forth between 'a receiving positionand different discharging positions, mechanism for automatically feeding articles into said diewhile it is in receiving position, a stop mechanism' set by the article in the die for arresting said die in'diil'erent discharging positions depending upon the `size of the article in said die, `and means'released by said die moving means acting to automatically eject the article from said die when the die reaches its discharging p osition@ 7. In a machine of the class described, a reciprocable gaugingdie, operating means "for moving said dieback and forth between a receiving position and diierent -discharging positions,

`mechanism for automatically feeding an article is in receiving posiinto said die while the die tion, said article'projecting through the die, a spring-"pressed plunger set by the projecting portion of the article in the die, astepped stop for engaging said plunger when the die is moved toward discharging-position to 'stop the die in different positions depending upon the distance the article projects through the die, and means automatically ejectingthe article from the die when the die is arrested inra discharging position. l f,

8. In a machine of the class described, means for automatically feeding articles into areceiving chamber, means acting to automatically move said articles from said receiving chamber to a ring chamber, means acting to `lire saidr articles into a gaugingy die,

means for moving said gauging die to differential positions controlled by the position of the article in said die, and-mechanism acting toautomatically eject said article when said vdie reaches its differential position. f I

9. In a machine of the class described, means for automatically arranging tapered articles with their smaller ends in aA given. directionand for feeding them into a receiving chamber, means for automatically moving them from said receiving chamber into a'firing chamber, means for automatically flringsaid articles from said firing chamber into a gauging die, means for automati-l cally moving said gauging die into differential positions controlled by theY position of the article in the die, and mechanism acting to automati-v cally ejec'; said article from saidV die `after it reaches its differential position. l

1o. In 'a machine of the class described. s-

hopper forreceiving .tapered articlesin'v bulk,

automatic means for takingsaid articles one at a time from said 'hopper and arranging the samev with their smaller ends in one direction and de,

livering them one at a time into a receiving chamber, means for moving the article from the receiving chamber to a firing chamber, a gauging die, mechanism for driving the article in the firing chamber into said gauging die, means for moving the gauging die from its receiving position to discharged positions, a stop mechanism set by said article when driven into said die, said stop mechanism acting to arrest said die in differential discharging positions, and means acting to automatically eject the tapered article from the die when the later is arrested in a discharging position. Y'

l1. In a machine of the class described, a movable gauging die, an operating means for moving said die from a receiving position to discharging positions and vice versa, a receiving chamber fr receiving articles from a source of supply, a firing chamber, means for automatically moving the article from the receiving to the firing chamber, a hammer released automaticallyby said operaiing means for driving said article from the firing chamber into said gauging die,v a spring-pressed plunger positioned by said article when driven into said die, a stepped stop for engaging said plunger when the die is moved toward discharging position to thereby arrest the die in differential discharging positions dependent upon the size of the article in the die, means acting to' automatically eject the articlefrom the die after the die reaches discharging position, and a receptacle opposite' each discharging position of the die for receiving the articles dischargedfrom `the die.

and means released by the continued movement of said slide after the die has been arrested for ejecting the article from the die.

13. In a machine of the class described, a movable gauging die, a power-operated slide for mov- -ing said die from receiving position to discharging positions and vice versa, said slide being movable relative to the die, means for feeding an article into said die while it-is in received posithe article in the diev for arresting said relativa tion. mechanism for arresting said die at differential positions depending upon the size ofthe article-inA the die, a locking meanslforflocking `'the diein its discharging position,'and means released by movement-ofsaid slide after the die arrested for eiectingthe ariclei from thefdie;

I4. In amachine of the class described,l a hop-i per for receiving "articles-fin,` indiscriminate lposition, Va'. gauging die, automatic' means A'for said articles from said hopper and feed'ng ythem one'at a time into'said gauging diese-that each article occupies a position in said die correspond'-y ing to its-size; a plurality of receptacles each' adapted to receive articles of a given size; causing relative movement between Isaid `die and receptacles to selectively register-the die and the receptacles, stop mechanism set'by'the'posltion o f the article in the die' automatically arresting relative movement between the-die and the receptacle, for the article `of the'size that is in thedie, and. means acting to automatically eject 4said articlefrom said die when the die andthe selected receptacle are registered.` r` 1 1 15,1In La machine of the classi-'fdescribedfa hopper for receiving tapered 'articles-inindiscriminate position, a gauging die, automatic means for taking said articles from said hopper and feedingthem into said die with the smaller ends of the articles entering the die rst, a plurality of receptacles for receiving articles of different, sizes, means for cau'sing la differential relative movement between the die and the receptacles to selectively register the die and receptacles, automatic stop mechanism set by the position of movement when the .die is in registration with the receptacle for articles of the size of the one in the die, and means acting to automatically eject the article from the die when the die and the chosen receptacle are in registration.

16. In a machine of the class described, a gauging die, means for feeding articles into said die so that they occupy positions therein dependent upon their size, a plurality of receptacles, means causing relative movement between said die and receptacles to, selectively register the die and said receptacles, stop mechanism for arresting said relative movement set by the position of said article in said die, and means acting to automatically. eject said article when said relative movement has ceased.

. 17. In a Vmachine of the class described, a gauging die. means for feeding articles into said die4 so that they are positioned therein according to their size, a plurality of receptacles, means for moving said die and the article therein relativev to said receptacles to selectively register lsaid die with said receptacles, means for arresting v.the movement of said die controlled by the position of the article in said die, and means `acting to automatically eject said article when said die has been-arrested.

18. In a machine of the class described, a gauging die, means for automatically positioning tapered articles with their small ends toward said die, means automatically feeding said positioned articles into said die so that they occupy positions dependent upon their size, a plurality of receptacles, means causing relative movement between said die and receptacles to selectively` register said die and receptacles, stop mechanism for arresting said relative movement set by the position of said tapered article in said die, and means automatically ejecting said .tapered article when said relative movement has been arrested.

los..

iso

19. Inl a machine ot the class described, a gaugingdi'e adapted to occupy a feeding position. means for feeding articles into said die so that eacharticle occupies a position in said die dependentupon its size, means for moving said die directly from its feeding position to a discharge position for the article in the die, 'means' controlled by the position o1' the article in saiddie for arresting said die` in discharging position, and ineans acting to automatically eject said article from said die when the diehas been arrested in its discharge position. v

20. In a machine of theclass described, a gauging die adapted to occupy a feeding position, means for automatically arranging tapered articles with `their small ends toward said die, means for feeding -tapered articles into said diewith their small ends entering rst so that the articles occupy a position dependent upon their size, meansv for moving said die directly from its feeding to a discharging position for the article vin the die, mechanism controlled by the position of the tapered article in said die automatically arresting said die in discharging position, andy means-acting to automatically eject saidarticle from said die vwhen the die has been arrested in its selected position. i.

, 2l. In a machineof the class described, a gauging die movable from a receiving position to a selected one of az plurality of discharge positions, automatic means forfeeding: artcle's into said die while it is in receiving position, means for maintaining said die stationary while an article is being fed into said die, means responsive to the position of thearticle in the die to select a discharge position,` operating means for moving said die directly and continuously from its re ceiving position to the selected discharge position, electing mechanism released by said operating means for automatically ejecting said articleI when the die reaches said selected discharge posi-A ARTHUR R. LAFFERTY. 

